Locking mechanism and panic actuating device



April 2, 1963 R. G. SCOTT 3,033,560

ocxmc MECHANISM AND PANIC ACTUATING DEVICE ,2 Filed July 22, 1960 2 h ts 5heet' 2 I wil i /.41 l' llll I l 'lll United States Patent 3,4)83559LOCKEG MECHAhllSh i AND PANZQ AQTUATENS Robert G. cott, Lamont, ilk,assignor to Brasco Manufactoring ilompany, Harvey, lit, a corporation ofDelaware iled duly 22, 196%, Ser. No. 44,749

Qainas. (Ci. '7ll'2) My invention relates to a locking mechanism andpanic actuating device for a door not ordinarily used for entry into orexit from a building, but which is usually an auxiliary type of door foruse in school rooms, halls, theaters and other public buildings, topermit rapid and easy exit from the building in case of fire, or someother happening in the building, which necessitates the rapid clearingout of the occupants without panic and through a plurality of exitswithout the necessity for crowding around the usual doorways of thebuilding.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a panic typeoperating mechanism which is simple in performance and easy to operateand which is so constructed that it is practically impossible to fail tooperate and release a door so that it can be easily opened and permitpassage of people therethrough.

Another and a further object of my invention is the provision of a dooropening mechanism which is so mounted in the door that it can be easilyactuated by pressure exerted upon a bar which passes across the innerface of the door so that the door is unlatched and in position to yieldto opening pressure placed on the bar or on the inner f cc of the dooras these panic doors are all adapted to open outward because if theyopen inward with a mass of people crowding against them on this innerside it would be impossible for the doors to be opened.

Another and further object of my invention is the pro vision of a panicdoor locking mechanism which can be easily actuated from the inside ofthe door, but which can also be opened from the outside preferably by ofa key inserted into the usual lock and tumbler device, if desired, canbe easily converted into a tumbler actuate device from both sides ifsuch operation should become desirable or necessary.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a panicactuating device for the locking mechanism of the door in which the dooris locked to the door frame at its top and bottom rather than by meansof a bolt centrally located so that pressure upon the bar both unlocksthe door and causes the door to open without any further effort beingnecessary, such as turning the knob or the like, which action could beeasily overlooked in a panic situation.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision or" rotatinglatch members for a door which are Dal . engaged in both locked andunlocked positions by the movement of the door into and away from closedposition, which are positive in operation, are easily locked andunlocked, and are certain in operation when the door eeds to be openedquickly.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully understood byreference to the accompanying drawings and in which FIGURE 1 is anelevational view of the door and door frame taken from the outsideembodying my invention;

FZGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view through the locking stile of adoor showing the locking mechanism and operating parts therefor on lines2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FZGURE 3 is a plan section taken on lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a view partially in section and partially in elevation ofthe outer side of the door showing the locking mechanism in positionwithin the lock ng stile of the door.

= dated Apr. 2, 15 63 Referring now specifically to the drawings, and inwhich like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a doorto is shown and a wall ll as a part of a building in which the doorframe 12; is built which comprises a side frame member 33, a second sideframe member 1 spaced from the member 13, a header l5 connecting the twoside frames 13 and 14 at the top, and a threshold 16 resting upon thefloor and spanning the space between the side frames 13 and i lat thebottom or" the door opening. A rib 13 on the side frame 13 and a rib tidon the header 15' form stops for the door and limit its travel into thedoor frame.

The door comprises a hinge stile 37 at side of the door, a lock stile 18at the opposite side, a top rail 19, a bottom rail Zil and a panel 21mounted in the door and secured at its side edges to the hinge s 'le 1'7and lock stile l8 and at its top and bottom to the top rail 1% andbottom rail to form a complete closure for the door which may be ofglass, wood panel, or any other material desired. Hin es 22 and 23 aresecured to the hinge stile 7:7 and to the side frame member 1 3 by meansof which he door is mounted to swing outward from the door 1 eningformed by the frame 12 in the wall 11. A floor striking member 2a issecured to the floor it} by means of screws 25, 25 and has a strikingrib 25 thereon at its upper side which extends into a cut-out portion ofthe threshold 16, with the rib extending approximately to the level ofthe threshold 15 which forms a striking and locking member for the doorat the lower side thereof as will be more fully described hereinafter.

A top striking member 27 is provided which is secured in the hollowheader 15 of the door frame by means of a striking cage 23 which issecured to the header 15 by means of screws 3% 3 3 with the strikingmember 27 being secured to the cage 23 l y means of screws 31, 31 whichtop striking member 27 has a downwardly extending striking rib 32thereon which is engaged by a latch hereinafter described to hold thedoor at its upper end in closed position.

The lock stile 18 is hollow and substantially rectangular in crosssectional shape except that at its side adjacent the door panel 21 ithas a rectangular extension 33 thereon and which extends throughout thelength of the lock stile i8, and within which a rectangular shaped topblock 34 is fitted. The block 34 is secured in position by means ofscrews 35, 35 which pass through the wall of the lock stile 18 and whichlock stile 18 has a top latch cage 36 mounted therein which is securedto the block 34 by means of screws 37, 37. The top latch cage 36 is achannel section in form and has a rotating top latch 38 mounted thereinfor rotary movement upon a pin 39 secured in the walls of the latch cage36, which latch 38 is somewhat elliptical in shape as shown, is composedof a plurality of metal plates which are placed in side to side relationwith each other to provide a latch of adequate thickness and are heldtogether by a hollow rivet 49 which forms a bearing for the pin 3% asthe latch 38 rotates. The latch 33 has a recess 41 at the apex of itslong diameter at one side thereof, which recess is outwardly flared ateach of its sides and when in locked position en ages the striking andlocking rib 32 on the member 27. The top latch 38 has a cut-out portionat one of its sides with a shoulder 42 formed thereon, which shoulder 42is engaged by a detent, designated as a whole as 43, which is pivotallymounted upon a pin 44 in the latch cage 36 and has leg portions 45 and4-6 thereon, which leg portion 45, in the closed position of the door,lies against the edge of the cut-out portion of the latch 38 with theend of the leg 45 engaging the shoulder 42 on the latch 38, with aspring 47 mounted upon a pin '48 in the top latch cage which normallyholds the detent 43 in engaged position with the latch 38. A latch Orb aspring 49 is provided which is fitted over the end of the upper latchcage 36 and has a curved inner end which is fitted into a curved recess50 in the periphery of the latch 38 which normally holds the latch38against rotation in its unlocked position but in position to properlyengage the rib 32 as the door is closed.

A thrust rod 51 is provided which is mounted in a guide block 52 havingopenings 53, 53 therein through which the thrust rod 51 passes with thesaid guide block 52 being secured to the top block 34 by means ofscfiews 54, 54 which rod 51 extends downward within the lock stile 18where it is connected to other parts of the mechanism hereinafterdescribed.

A bottom block'55 is mounted in the lower end of the lock stile 18within the area defined by the extension'33 of the'walls of the lockstile and is secured in position by means of screws 56, 56 with a lowerlock cage 57 being provided which is channel shaped in cross section andquite similar to the upper lock cage 36 in construction and is securedin position by screws 58 and 59 which pass a through the bottom block 55and into one of the side walls of the lower lock cage 57. A lowerrotating latch 60 composed of a plurality of elliptical shaped platesplaced in side to side relation with each other and held in unitposition by a rivet 61 passing therethrough which in turn is mountedupon a pin 62 mounted in the lower 'lock cage 57, with the latch 69having a door stop rib receiving recess 63 at the apex'of its longdiameter in one side thereof which is normally adapted to engage overthe rib 26 on the floor striker 24. A lower detent 64 is pivotallymounted on a pin 65 secured in the lower lock cage 57 and has anelongated opening 66 within which a pin 67 is mounted which extendsthrough the end of the pull rod 63, with the detent 64 engaging ashoulder 69 formed as a cut-out on one side of the lower latch 69 whichengagement prevents the rotation ofthe latch 60in a clockwise directionwhen the door is in closed 73, "73 therethrough through which the rod 51extends which guide 52, is secured to a block 754 mounted in the securedto the middle block 74 by means of screws 76 and77. 7

The thrust rod'5l is secured to a throw bar 78 at its "lower end withthe throw bar having an extension 79 a position. A spring 76 is fittedat one of its ends over the 7 clock stile 18 by a screw 75, with theguide 72 being;

thereon within which the lower end of the rod 51 is fitted and securedto the throw bar by a pin 85). A compression spring 81 is mounted uponthe rod 51 in an abutting engagement with the fixed guide 72 at itsupper end, and against the upper end of the'throw bar 78 which springexerts its force in an expansive position and tends to drive the, throwbar 78 downward and keeps the thrust rod 51 V out of engagement with theleg 46 on thedetent 43. The

being fitted under a roller pin 86 in the slotted end of the-throw bar.The operating lever 85'extends inward and downward on the inside of thedoor and is pivotally mounted'upon a roller pin 87 mounted in a bracket88 secured to the inner face of the lock stile 18 by means of screws 89and 9%. A bracket 91 is secured to the hinge stile 17 and has a lever92' pivotally mounted therein 4 with a thrust bar 93 mounted at each ofits ends in the levers and 92 respectively so that a push on the thrustbar 93 depresses the lever 85 raising the end portion 84 and lifts thethrow bar 78. This movement pushes the rod 51 upward which brings theupper end of the push rod 51 into engagement with the leg 46 on thedetent 43 pushes the leg 45 out of engagement with the shoulder 42 onthe upper latch member 38 thereby permitting the latch member 48 torotate in a counterclockwise direction and release itself from' theupper locking rib 32 as the door is opened. The pull rod 68 is movedupward at the same time thereby rotating the detent 64 out of engagementwith the shoulder 69 on the lower latch member 61 permitting the latch66 to rotate in'a clockwise'dh rection so the door is completelyreleased and is responsive to pressure against the thrust bar 93 and canbe very easily opened. 1

A pin having a knurled button 95 on the outer end thereof and aneccentric head 96 on the inner end thereof is provided, which if desiredcan be turned into position so that the eccentric head pushes the innerend 84 of the lever 85 into its uppermost position, or can "be turnedinto such position by pressure on the thrust bar 93, and holds the topand bottom detents out of engagement with the rotating latches 38 and 6%so that the door can 7 be freely opened and closed without lockingshould it be desired to be left in this position.

A locking cylinder holder block 97 is secured to the outer face of thelocking stile 18 and has a locking cylinder 98 mounted therein withinwhich a tumbler cylinder 99 is positioned with a key opening 106*therein with a roller 101 mounted on theinner end of the cylinder whichis eccentric .to the cylinder 99 and which when rotated engages upon theshoulder 102 formed upon the throw bar 78 so that through the action ofa key the door can be opened from the'outside if desired or if V Inoperation the device is quite simple in that, asshow'n in FIGURE 2, whenthe door is in closed position the upper latch 38 and the lower latch 69are in such position that they engage over' the locking ribs 26 and 32respectively, with the latch 38 being held in engagement with the rib bythe leg portion 45' of the detent 43 engaging with the shoulder 42 onthe upper latch member 38 and held in such position by the spring 47.The lower latch member 60 engages the rib 26 and is held in thisposition by the lower detent 64,which is in'engagement with the shoulder69 formed on the latch member 60, so that this member is held inposition by pressure of the compression spring 81 which forces the throwbar 78 downward, which in turn forces the rod 66 downward to hold thedetent 64 against rotation and in engage-,

rection freeing its end from the shoulder 69, while the throw bar 78exerting an upward pressure on the rod 51 brings it into engagement withthe leg 46 on the detent 43 causing the detent 43 to rotate in acounterclockwise direction upon the pin 34 and moving the leg portion 45outward against the pressure of the spring 47 and taking the detent43-out of engagement with the shoulder 42 which permits the latch member38 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as continued pressure onthe thrust bar '93 forces the door to open position. As

the latch member 38 turns in a counter-clockwise direction the latch isfreed of the rib 32 and turned sufficiently for the curved end of thespring 49 to engage in the recess 50 thereby holding the latch member 38against further rotation and permitting its curved surface adjacent theshoulder 42 to engage against the inner face of the leg portion 45 ofthe detent 43. As the door is pushed outward the bottom latch 69 rotatesin a clockwise direction because the latch 60 is free of the detent 64and the curved end of the spring 7% engages in the curved recess 71 onthe latch 60 which holds the latch against further rotation and placesthe latch 60 in position for engagement with the rib 26 in the closingoperation of the door. In this condition the door can be swung outwardto wide open position so that rapid passage of individuals through thedoor can be permitted without in any way being interfered with by thedoor.

As soon as pressure is released on the thrust bar 93, the spring 81pushes the throw bar 73 downward only slightly and the pin 67 is pusheddownward slightly in the elongated opening 66 with the detent 64remaining against the curved surface of the latch 69 where it remainsuntil it is closed. As the door reaches its closed position, the upperlatch member 38 engages against the rib 32 which turns the latch member38 in a clockwise direction, with the lower latch member 69 engagingagainst the rib 25 which turns the latch member 6% in acounter-clockwise direction until both locking members 33 and 60 engageupon the ribs 26 and 32 respectively, in which position the spring 4-?forces the leg portion 45 of the detent 43 in position under theshoulder 42 and the detent 64 is forced downward by the spring 81 andweight of the throw bar 78 so that the detent 54 is forced intoengagement with the shoulder 6h on the lower locking member 60 and thedoor is again locked in position.

After the door has been opened and it may be desired to hold the detents43 and 64 out of engagement with the locking members 33 and so, theknurled member 95 is turned in such manner that the eccentric 96 isrotated under the end 84 of the lever 85 so that the locking detents 43and 64 are prevented from engagement with the locking members 33 and 69.In this position the door can be opened and closed with the latches 33and 6t} functioning in such manner that they are in latched positionwhen the door is closed but not locked so that a door can either bepushed open or pulled open from its outside if desired without unlockingthe door it will be understood when the door is opened the upper latch33 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, while the lower latch 60turns in a clockwise direction, thus rotating to an outside position thesides of these latch members on their shortest diameters which placesthe outer edge of the latch only slightly below and above the ends ofthe locking stile so that the door can be made close fitting and willnot drag on the floor at the bottom nor engage the header at the top.When it is desired to restore the locking mechanism the eccentric isturned to out of engaged position with the lever 84 and it functions ashereinabove described.

When it is desired to open the door from the outside, a key is fittedinto the locking tumbler and rotated and as the member 161 acts upon theshoulder 1572 on the throw bar 78, the throw bar '73 is lifted andperforms in exactly the same manner as if it were lifted by the lever84, and which forces the detents 43 and 54 out of engagement with thelocking members 38 and 69 in which condition the door can be pulled openfrom the outer side if entry is desired from the outside of a building.

While I have described more or less precisely the details ofconstruction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting m self thereto,as I contemplate changes in form, the proportion of parts and thesubstitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or renderexpedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a door having a hollow locking stile on one ofits sides and a hinge stile on the other side, latch cases mounted inthe upper and lower ends of the locking stile, rotating latches in thesaid latch cases, each of said latches having a locking rib receivingrecess in one side thereof and having a shoulder formed thereon and alsohavin spring receiving recesses in the outer edges thereof, combinedlocking and striking ribs mounted on the door frame for engagement withthe said latches, pivotally mounted upper and lower deten-ts movable forengagement with the shoulders on said latches, springs carried by thelatch cases in engagement with the latches and fitting into the springreceiving recesses whereby the said latches are held against rotationwhen in unlatched position, a throw bar, a push rod connected to thethrow bar at its upper end for engagement with the upper detent, asecond rod connected to the said throw bar and to the lower detent, aguide for the said push rod, a compression spring on the said push rodin engagement with the said guide and the throw bar, a pivotally mountedlever on the said door, one end of which engages the throw bar and athrust bar mounted on the other end of the said lever.

2. In combination with a door having a hollow locking stile on one ofits sides and a hinge stile on the other side, latch cases mounted inthe upper and lower ends of the locking stile, rotating latches in thesad latch cases, each of said latches having a locking rib receivingrecess in one side thereof and having a shoulder formed thereon and alsohaving spring receiving recesses in the outer edges thereof, combinedlocking and striking ribs mounted on the door frame for engagement withthe said latches, pivotally mounted upper and lower detents movable forengagement with the shoulders on said latches, springs carried by thelatch cases in engagement with the latches and fitting into the springreceiving recesses whereby the said latches are held against rotationwhen in unlatched position, a throw bar, a push rod conected to thethrow bar at its upper end for engagement with the upper detent, asecond rod connected to the said throw bar and to the lower detent, aguide for the said push rod, a compression spring on the said push rodin engagement with the said guide and the throw bar, a pivotally mountedlever on the said door, one end of which engages the throw bar and athrust bar mounted on the other end of the said lever, and means wherebythe detents are held in out of engaged position with the rotationlatches.

3. In combination with a door having a hollow locking stile on one ofits sides and a hinge stile on the other side, latch cases mounted inthe upper and lower ends of the locking stile, rotating latches in thesaid latch cases, each of said latches having a locking rib receivingrecess in one side thereof and having a shoulder formed thereon and alsohaving spring receiving recesses in the outer edges thereof, combinedlocking and striking ribs mounted on the door frame for engagement withthe said latches, pivotally mounted upper and lower detents movable forengagement with the shoulders on said latches, springs carried by thelatch cases in engagement with the latches and fitting into the springreceiving recesses whereby the said latches are held against rotationwhen in unlatched position, a throw bar, a push rod connected to thethrow bar at its upper end for engage ment with the upper detent, asecond rod connected to the said throw bar and to the lower detent, aguide for the said push rod, a compression spring on the said push rodin engagement with the said guide and the throw bar, a pivotally mountedlever on the said door, one end of which engages the throw bar and athrust bar mounted on the other end of the said lever, a rotatablymounted pin in the said door, a button on one end thereof and aneccentric member on the inner end of the button adapted to engage thepivotally mounted lever for holding the detents in out of engagedposition with the said latches.

4. In combination with a door having a hollow locking stile on one ofits sides and a hinge stile on the other held againstrotation when innnla'tched'position, a throw bar, a push, rod connected to the throw barat its upper end for engagement with the upper detent, a push andpullrod connected to the said throw bar and to the lower detent, aguidefor the said push rod, a compression spring on the said-push rod inengagement with the said guide and the throw bar, a pivotally mountedlever on the said door, oneend of 'which'engages the throw bar, and athrust'barrnounted onthe other end of the saidlever, a locking cylinderon the opposite side of the door from. the thrust bar, and an eccentricmember in the looking cylinder adaptedfto engage the throw bar wherebythe latches m'ay'be released.

5. In combinationwith a door having a hollow locking stile on one of itssides and a hinge stile on the other 'tside, latch cases mounted in theupper and lower ends of the locking stile, rotating latches in the saidlatch cases,

each of said latches having a locking rib receiving 're cess in one sidethereof and having a shoulder formed thereon and also having a springreceiving recess in the outer edge thereof, pivotally mounted upper andlower detents movable for engagement with the shoulders on said latches,springs carried by the latch cases in engagemen-t with the latches andfitting 'into the spring-receiving recesses whereby the said latches areheld against rotation when in nnlatched: position,'a throw bar; a pnshrod, connected to the throw bar at its upperend for engajgement with theupper detent, a push and pull rod connected to the said throw bar and tothe-lower de-tent, a guide for the said push rod, a compression springon the said push rod in engagement with said guide and the throw-bar, apivotally mounted leveron the said door, one end of which engagesthethrow bar and a thrust'bar mounted on the other end ofthe said lever,a locking cylinder on the side of the door opposite the thrust bar, akey actuated tumbler in the locking cylinder and 'an eccentric member onsaid tumbler for engagement with the throw bar whereby the latches maybe unlocked.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDv STATES PATENTS Ballrimeizs, 1872

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A DOOR HAVING A HOLLOW LOCKING STILE ON ONE OFITS SIDES AND A HINGE STILE ON THE OTHER SIDE, LATCH CASES MOUNTED INTHE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF THE LOCKING STILE, ROTATING LATCHES IN THESAID LATCH CASES, EACH OF SAID LATCHES HAVING A LOCKING RIB RECEIVINGRECESS IN ONE SIDE THEREOF AND HAVING A SHOULDER FORMED THEREON AND ALSOHAVING SPRING RECEIVING RECESSES IN THE OUTER EDGES THEREOF, COMBINEDLOCKING AND STRIKING RIBS MOUNTED ON THE DOOR FRAME FOR ENGAGEMENT WITHTHE SAID LATCHES, PIVOTALLY MOUNTED UPPER AND LOWER DETENTS MOVABLE FORENGAGEMENT WITH THE SHOULDERS ON SAID LATCHES, SPRINGS CARRIED BY THELATCH CASES IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LATCHES AND FITTING INTO THE SPRINGRECEIVING RECESSES WHEREBY THE SAID LATCHES ARE HELD AGAINST ROTATIONWHEN IN UNLATCHED POSITION, A THROW BAR, A PUSH ROD CONNECTED TO THETHROW BAR AT ITS UPPER END FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPPER DETENT, ASECOND ROD CONNECTED TO THE SAID THROW BAR AND TO THE LOWER DETENT, AGUIDE FOR THE SAID PUSH ROD, A COMPRESSION SPRING ON THE SAID PUSH RODIN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SAID GUIDE AND THE THROW BAR, A PIVOTALLY MOUNTEDLEVER ON THE SAID DOOR, ONE END OF WHICH ENGAGES THE THROW BAR AND ATHRUST BAR MOUNTED ON THE OTHER END OF THE SAID LEVER.